44y · Female·Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy complicating cardiac arrest in the setting of p…
Elizabeth Ferris, a 44-year-old woman with schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance use disorder, died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy following cardiac arrest in the setting of presumed drug toxicity. She was fo…
87y · Female·Complications of head injuries and left proximal femur fracture sustained in a f…
An 87-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease sustained an unwitnessed fall at a residential aged care facility, resulting in head injuries and a hip fracture. Critical clinical lessons emerged: (1) neurological observat…
1y · Female·Rapidly developing Streptococcus pneumoniae infection leading to invasive pneumo…
Arianna Maragol, a 16-month-old girl, died from rapidly developing Streptococcus pneumoniae infection leading to invasive pneumococcal disease while in childcare on 24 August 2018. Key clinical lessons emerged: (1) Pneum…
41y · Male·Ligature compression of the neck (hanging) and penetrating sharp force injury (s…
Corey Desmond Devree, aged 41, died by suicide in Bunbury Regional Prison on 14 October 2024 through ligature compression of the neck and a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Key clinical and systemic lessons includ…
74y · Male·Acute myocardial infarction complicated by multiple organ failure
Ronald William Beaumont, 74, died from acute myocardial infarction complicated by multiple organ failure following a second shoulder washout procedure. Key clinical lessons: (1) Despite inadvertent withholding of dual an…
85y · Male·Sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia due to septic arthritis of left …
An 85-year-old man died in custody from sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia arising from septic arthritis of the left shoulder, on a background of congestive heart failure. While receiving generally adequate …
44y · Female·Pulmonary thromboembolism complicating a fractured left ankle (not operated), su…
A 44-year-old woman died from pulmonary thromboembolism 27 days after sustaining a Weber B ankle fracture from a fall. She was managed conservatively with a CAM boot then below-knee cast, with progressive immobilisation …
60y · Male·Pulmonary tuberculosis in a man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with…
A 60-year-old man remanded in custody died from pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by severe COPD. Key clinical issues included: delayed diagnosis (TB not suspected at intake despite respiratory symptoms), patient's refu…
78y · Female·Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy as a result of obstruction of airway caused by …
A 78-year-old woman died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy following an acute post-surgical arterial bleed that obstructed her airway after hemithyroidectomy. The bleeding complication occurred when she coughed after…
22y · Male·Airway obstruction due to laryngeal abscess and laryngeal chondronecrosis due to…
Kyle Gallagher, age 22, died from airway obstruction due to laryngeal abscess and chondronecrosis following a motorcycle accident. A CT scan on 13 July 2023 showed a critically narrowed (3mm) subglottic airway with suspe…
42y · Female·hypovolaemic shock due to an acute ruptured subcapsular splenic haematoma in the…
Eve Brown, a 42-year-old Aboriginal woman, died of hypovolaemic shock from a ruptured splenic haematoma in the context of urosepsis at a regional hospital. She presented with UTI symptoms and was admitted to Lightning Ri…
61y · Male·Intracranial haemorrhage and myocardial infarct
A 61-year-old man with extensive cardiac disease collapsed at a supermarket, striking his head and losing consciousness for less than 10 seconds. Paramedics identified STEMI and administered heparin on advice from Austin…
54y · Female·Severe burns sustained in a house fire (palliated)
Carol Fay Slade, a 54-year-old woman with acquired brain injury from a 2003 motorcycle accident and mobility limitations, died from severe burns sustained in a house fire at her public housing property in Shepparton. The…
17y · Male·Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy Complicating Anaphylaxis
James Tsindos, a 17-year-old with known nut allergy and mild asthma, experienced anaphylaxis after inadvertently ingesting cashews in a vegan restaurant meal on 27 May 2021. Ambulance paramedics administered two doses of…
73y · Male·Gregory Frank Burkhalter: carbon monoxide toxicity due to inhalation of carbon m…
Two elderly US-born residents died in a house fire caused by a 120-volt electric blanket operating on Australia's 230-volt grid, resulting in insulation failure and combustion. Mr Burkhalter (73) died from carbon monoxid…
28y · Female·3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine toxicity
Trang Thi Thu Le, 28, died on her birthday from MDMA and ketamine toxicity after attending an electronic dance music event at John Cain Arena. She collapsed after consuming drugs purchased from an unknown source within t…
43y · Male·Bilateral pulmonary thrombo-emboli; contributory factors included obesity, coron…
Paul Harris, a 43-year-old Aboriginal man, died from bilateral pulmonary emboli while hospitalized at Hay District Hospital. He presented in September 2019 with pneumonia and Q fever (occupational exposure from kangaroo …
33y · Male·Complications of out of hospital cardiac arrest in a man with atherosclerotic ca…
A 33-year-old Indigenous man with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia collapsed while playing football in a prison in July 2023, sustaining an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from which he did not recover. Auto…
30y · Male·pulmonary thromboembolism in an overweight man with comorbidities (including rec…
Karl Steinhauser, a 30-year-old man with schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance misuse, died from pulmonary thromboembolism on 12 March 2023 while under Mental Health Act care. After two weeks of increasingly challen…
Male·Little Brother: multi-organ dysfunction due to hypothermia with contributing con…
Two Aboriginal brothers with chronic alcohol use disorder and cognitive impairment died in July and September 2023 in Alice Springs Hospital. Both had adult guardianship orders, NDIS packages, and aged care assessments r…
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